Royal Navy transports a REMUS 600 unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to the operations area

The command operations module located at the British Underwater Test & Evaluation Centre (BUTEC)

Image of Schiebelâs CAMCOPTER S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS).

Halcyon, a small Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) â just 12 metres long and 3.5 metres wide

Image of the BAE Systems P950 Autonomous Rib at sea.

Unmanned Warrior is a clear demonstration of the Royal Navy’s ambition to lead and win through technological innovation.

Admiral Sir Philip Jones

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “The sheer scale of this exercise demonstrates how our Armed Forces are leading in developing futuristic technologies to keep us safe at sea, or in the air.

"This is part of our new approach to harnessing innovation, backed by a rising defence budget, to ensure we keep ahead of our adversaries.”

From scouring the sea bed with sonar beams to watching the waves from above, these autonomous systems are diving, swimming and flying together, providing information that will be used to inform how future unmanned systems could help protect service men and women.

Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, said: “Unmanned Warrior is a clear demonstration of the Royal Navy’s ambition to lead and win through technological innovation.

"Unmanned maritime systems will change how we operate, but they’re just the start. Our pursuit of new technologies and ideas – from big data to 3D-printing – will ensure we remain one of the most capable and successful navies in the world.”

Supervising Unmanned Warrior 16 was Royal Navy Fleet Robotics Officer Commander Peter Pipkin: “The technologies demonstrated in Unmanned Warrior have the potential to fundamentally change the future of Royal Navy operations just as the advent of steam propulsion or submarines did.

"This is a chance to take a great leap forward in Maritime Systems – not to take people out of the loop, but to enhance everything they do, extending our reach and efficiency using intelligent robotics at sea.”